The Lake Erie Ghost Ship

At dusk you skim across the murky waters of Lake Erie in your yacht then you see it. Out of the shadowy mist pops the surreal image of a ghost ship. Your heart pounds, you doubt your senses, but curiosity won’t let you retreat. Instinctively you cut your engines and drift cautiously along its port side. You listen… but hear nothing, so you tie up to the gangway and board.

Again you listen… but the only sound is the creaking of the booms. Removing your shoes to walk quietly, you make your way midship. Still silence, nothing. Bravely you walk down into the hold, past the captain’s quarters, through the galley, and come to a bulkhead door. Fear races through your mind as you summon your last ounce of courage… with all your strength you release the latch… and open it.

“Welcome!” says the Captain. “Your partner will be Patch, and the stakes are 10 dollars a point. Chicago.” Fearful of refusing, you sit South. Surprisingly, you have a great run of cards and declare the first six deals. The bad news is the Captain (West) keeps eyeing Patch with an evil glare. Something is afoul and you wonder if you’ll ever leave the ship alive. Oh well. Good bridge comes first.

In October 2002 these problems were presented as a contest, which had 662 entrants from 100 locations. The contest is now closed, but you can still challenge yourself and find your score immediately.

As South on each problem, choose your play from options A-F. Each option is rated on a 1-to-10 scale based on my judgment.

Bidding is standard (unless noted). Opponents use standard leads and signals.
For a reference see Standard American Bridge. Assume all players are experts.

The evening fog has rolled in, so you may as well stay and give it a try. If you make it out alive, you might even win a valuable prize.*

*Prizes include 13 “Who you gonna call?” GhostBusters T-shirts, and 666 tickets to the movie Ghost Ship.
Employees and non-employees of PavCo Institute of the Paranormal are ineligible.

Problem 1

Chicago	K Q 5 3			West	North	East	South
None vul	6 3			Captain	Patch	Shipmate	You
	A J 10 6 3				1	Pass	1
	K J			Pass	1	Pass	2 NT
				Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
Lead: J		East plays 2		Pass
	A 4
	Q 10 8 7
	K 5 4
3 NT South	A 10 6 3

Your play?

A. Win K, lead 3 to eight
B. Win K, run the J
C. Win K, run the J
D. Win A, K, run the J
E. Win A, A, run the J
F. Win A, K, finesse J

Problem 2

Chicago	J 6 4 2			West	North	East	South
E-W vul	9 7 2			Captain	Patch	Shipmate	You
	5 4 2					Pass	1
	A 6 5			Dbl	2	4	4
				Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: K		East plays Q
	A K 7 5 3
	6
	A K J 6 3
4 South	8 2

West next leads the 8 to East’s 10. You ruff then cash the A, and West drops the queen. What next?

A. Win K, J, lead 2 to jack
B. Win K, duck a diamond
C. Win J, lead 2 to jack
D. Win J, duck a diamond
E. Win A, J, lead 2
F. Win A, duck a diamond

Problem 3

Chicago	A 7 5			West	North	East	South
N-S vul	A 2			Captain	Patch	Shipmate	You
	10 6 5 4 2						1
	K J 2			Pass	1	Pass	1 NT
				Pass	3 NT	Pass	Pass
Lead: 6		East plays 7		Pass
	J 9 3
	K 9
	K Q 8
3 NT South	A 9 6 5 4

You win the A and lead a diamond to the king (East plays the 3, West the 7). What next?

A. Lead 3 to ace
B. Lead the Q
C. Lead the 8
D. Win A, lead 4 to jack
E. Lead 4 to king
F. Lead 4 to jack

Problem 4

Chicago	K Q 9 2			West	North	East	South
Both vul	10 9 8			Captain	Patch	Shipmate	You
	A 5 4			1	Pass	1 NT	2
	J 6 3			3	3	Pass	4
				Pass	Pass	Pass
Lead: K		East plays J
	10 5
	A Q J 7 6 5 2
	8 3
4 South	K 2

You duck and West leads the 6, won in dummy, as East plays the 7. On the 10 East plays low. Your play?

A. Win Q, lead 10 to king, lead 9
B. Win Q, lead 10 to king, ruff diamond
C. Win Q, lead K
D. Win 10, lead K and unblock 10
E. Win 10, draw the missing trumps
F. Win 10, ruff diamond, lead 10 to king

Note: West is void in hearts.

Problem 5

Chicago	K 4 3			West	North	East	South
None vul	Q 5 4 3			Captain	Patch	Shipmate	You
	A 10 4					Pass	1
	A 3 2			1	2	Pass	2 NT
				Pass	3	Pass	4
Lead: K		East plays 10		Pass	Pass	Pass
	A 5 2
	A K J 7 6
	J 3 2
4 South	6 4

You duck, then West leads the J won by dummy’s ace (East plays the 5).
You win the A and Q; West (void) pitches the 6 and 5. What next?

A. Ruff club, K, A, spade
B. Ruff club, K, K, A, spade
C. Ruff club, run the J
D. Ruff club, lead 2 to 10
E. Lead 3 and pitch a spade
F. Lead 3 and pitch a diamond

Problem 6

Chicago	J 9 5			West	North	East	South
N-S vul	K 9			Captain	Patch	Shipmate	You
	A Q 10						Pass
	A K J 9 4			Pass	1	Pass	1
				Pass	4 1	Pass	Pass
Lead: 5		East captures K with A		Pass
				1. What else. You’re on a roll.
	K Q 10 4 3
	4 3 2
	4 3
4 South	7 6 5

East pauses then leads the 2 (West will play the 6). Which spade do you win and what next?

A. Win K, lead 4 to queen
B. Win K, lead 4 to 10
C. Win K, lead 7 to jack
D. Win 9, lead 5
E. Win 9, lead 9
F. Win 9, A, lead 5

 Click to see how you did

Challenge 7X01 Main Analyses

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© 2002 Richard Pavlicek